Spencer Council Hears Update On Waste Water Treatment Plant

Spencer Police Department Reserve Deputy Town Marshals received certificates of appreciation for their hard work and dedication during Monday night’s meeting of the Spencer Town Council. Pictured above, left to right: Daniel Rhinehart, Scott Carmichael, Tom Trefry, chaplain Alvin McFadden, Brandon Sergeant, Ryan Combs and Brandon Webb. Not pictured: John Shields, Chuck Jacobs, Dave Risk and Mike Hendricks. (Staff Photo) The Spencer Waste Water Treatment Plant is running well and dispensing clean effluent, interim plant operator John Hodge told the three-member Spencer Town Council on Monday night.

The number three reactor at the treatment plant is now in service, making all three tanks operational. Hodge also recently purchased a new blower motor for the drier system at a cost of $1,316.88 with a three-year warranty.

While everything is in working order at the plant, the council gave Hodge the go-ahead to seek estimates to repair and rehabilitate the east lift station on Hart Street. The council was also told of the need to designate an area and construct a storage space for sludge, as suggested by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM).

The council also told those in attendance that IDEM recently concluded the final portion of its investigation with members of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources and will send the town a full report within 60 to 90 days.

Revisiting a request by Boston Scientific of Spencer to reduce the speed limit for traffic on Brookside Drive, the council was informed by town attorney Richard Lorenz that in order to lower the speed limit to 10 miles per hour as requested, the town would be required by state statute to conduct an extensive traffic study for the entire town. The council could, however, reduce the speed limit from 30 to 20 miles per hour and did so with a 3-0 vote.

In public issues, the council was approached by Donna Rice on behalf of the Spencer American Legion and Ladies Auxiliary with a request to close Main Street, from Market Street to Jefferson Street, following the Apple Butter Festival parade on Saturday, September 15 in order to allow for a live band performance in front of the legion from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.

The council advised Rice to contact the Spencer Lions Club to ensure those plans did not interfere with the festival before the council would approve the request.

In police department business, Spencer Town Marshal Richard Foutch and the council recognized reserve deputy town marshals with certificates of appreciation, which read: “The above officer being in good standing through maintaining the rigid requirements set out by the Spencer Police Department’s Reserve program and has proved to be an intricate part of the over- all success of the SPD. Therefore the above officer has played an essential role in the enduring success of the SPD’s continuing excellence in providing safety and security to the citizens of Spencer. This level of excellence of providing a highly professional and efficient law enforcement agency requires training, commitment, hard work, bravery and honesty. The above officer has exhibited all of these attributes. Therefore the above officer’s sacrifices and actions reflect well upon, not only their community, the Town of Spencer, the SPD and their families, but themselves personally.”

Those receiving certificates in attendance included Ryan Combs, Scott Carmichael, Alvin McFadden, Brandon Webb, Tom Trefry, Daniel Rhinehart and Brandon Sergeant. Those not able to attend included Chuck Jacobs, David Risk, Mike Hendricks and John Shields.

In street department news, the council was told that a date has yet to be given for the paving of Hillside Avenue from West Street to Fletcher Avenue by department assistant superintendent Roger Freeman.

In additional street news, councilman Jon Stantz informed fellow council members Cynthia Hyde and Dean Bruce that the Indiana Department of Transportation has asked the council to start thinking about what kind of lamp post and fixtures they would like to see installed along Morgan Street once work is initiated in 2015 on a project to widen the roadway through Spencer. A total of 35 to 40, 18-foot lights will be installed.

Also related to INDOT, the council voted 3-0 to pay the second and final $50,000 payment to INDOT from the town’s EDIT fund for its portion of the eventual West Franklin Street extension, which will border the new CVS Pharmacy.

The council also voted 3-0 to pay an $6,400 invoice from HWC Engineering for work related to East Hillside Avenue and the future Safe Routes to Schools sidewalk replacement project.

Hearing a request from the Owen County Art Guild, the council was asked for permission to utilize a vacant lot directly behind the guild as an auxiliary parking area. However, town attorney Richard Lorenz informed the council and art guild member George Thurston that the lot is not owned by the town, but by a holding company.

The council also took under advisement a second request from Thurston and the art guild to place directional signs to the Art Guild at the end of East, Washington and Harrison streets.

The council was also visited by Matt Sward from the Southern Indiana Development Commission, who provided the council with documentation related to requirements to apply for planning grants. The grants the town received paperwork for included parks and recreation, a Community Focus Funds project for a health care center and Stellar Communities funding.

The Spencer Town Council will meet again on Tuesday, September 4, beginning at 7:00 p.m. in the Spencer Municipal Building, located a 90 North West Street. The meeting will begin with a public hearing to discuss 2013 town budgets.